Announcement Means EPIC News For Western Sydney Commuters

A planned multi-billion dollar upgrade of the Bankstown line will save commuters up to an hour a week, according to the state government.

New details of the improvements were released yesterday morning, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian assuring train users that the temporary disruptions and rail closures would eventually be worth it.

"Work starts from next year to make big improvements to the stations, including making them fully accessible, with all stations to have level access between platform and trains," she said.

Ms Berejiklian also announced that the upgrades would take four years and will start to be rolled out from 2020.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance explained that the enormous project would include improvement to station entrances, introduction of new plazas and construction of a new concourse to connect the Metro Project and existing light rail station at Dulwich Hill.

He said commuters can also expect extra services, projecting that every station will be running 15 stations each hour by 2024.

"Customers will have a new fully air-conditioned metro train every four minutes in the peak," Mr Constance added.

Unfortunately the planned upgrades mean that services will get worse before they get better; it will be necessary for more than 13 kilometres of track on the Sydenham-Bankstown line to be closed for between three and six months for conversion work.

Commuters have been assured that track possessions will be mostly restricted to school holiday periods and night time, although some instances may see lines impacted "continuously for some days at a time."